Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL

Plan a Visit

Gallery Guides

Museum Guides

With so many things to do and see, it is difficult to cover the whole museum in one visit! To help teachers focus museum trips, Adler Education staff created standards-based guides designed around the museum's central themes. These guides are self-directed and will take you and your students or family on a journey through the galleries while calling special attention to science themes.

Due to the installation of new exhibits, certain exhibit components may be unavailable during your visit.

For each of the themes, we have developed guides for specific age and ability levels. Each level explores the same principals and concepts with varying degrees of difficulty and thought provoking questions. We encourage you to select ONE theme to help focus your trip. Choose the level based on your students' needs.

Recommended Grade Levels:

Beginner Guides Recommended for students in kindergarten through grade 2. Teachers and or chaperones are encouraged to work with the students to complete the guide.
Intermediate Guides Recommended for students in grades 3-8.
Advanced Guides Recommended for students in grades 9-12.

Guides are available for the following themes:

Tour the Universe (Discover the four realms, Earth-Moon, Solar System, Milky Way, and Universe of Galaxies, that make up our Universe.)
Download PDF guide: Beginner | Intermediate
Exploring the Sky from Earth (Learn how the sky has influenced the lives of people since the beginning of time and continue to do so today.)
Download PDF guide: Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced

Gallery Specific Guides

Gallery Guides are available online for teachers who are planning trips for their classes to the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum. These guides contain pre- and post-visit activities that teachers can use to make a day at the Adler more meaningful and educational for students. Currently the following guides are available:

Milky Way Gallery Guide — a guide to the Adler's Milky Way Galaxy exhibit gallery
Solar System Gallery Guide — a guide to the Adler's Our Solar System exhibit gallery

Illinois Learning Benchmarks at Adler

Do you need help aligning your field trip to the Illinois Learning Benchmarks in Science? We can help you plan your trip!

Visit our field trip page to download our visitor experience matrixes.


		Plan a Visit Gallery Guides Museum Guides With so many things to do and see, it is difficult to cover the whole museum in one visit! To help teachers focus museum trips, Adler Education staff created standards-based guides designed around the museum's central themes. These guides are self-directed and will take you and your students or family on a journey through the galleries while calling special attention to science themes. Due to the installation of new exhibits, certain exhibit components may be unavailable during your visit. For each of the themes, we have developed guides for specific age and ability levels. Each level explores the same principals and concepts with varying degrees of difficulty and thought provoking questions. We encourage you to select ONE theme to help focus your trip. Choose the level based on your students' needs. Recommended Grade Levels: Beginner Guides Recommended for students in kindergarten through grade 2. Teachers and or chaperones are encouraged to work with the students to complete the guide. Intermediate Guides Recommended for students in grades 3-8. Advanced Guides Recommended for students in grades 9-12. Guides are available for the following themes: Tour the Universe (Discover the four realms, Earth-Moon, Solar System, Milky Way, and Universe of Galaxies, that make up our Universe.) Download PDF guide: Beginner \| Intermediate Exploring the Sky from Earth (Learn how the sky has influenced the lives of people since the beginning of time and continue to do so today.) Download PDF guide: Beginner \| Intermediate \| Advanced Gallery Specific Guides Gallery Guides are available online for teachers who are planning trips for their classes to the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum. These guides contain pre- and post-visit activities that teachers can use to make a day at the Adler more meaningful and educational for students. Currently the following guides are available: Milky Way Gallery Guide — a guide to the Adler's Milky Way Galaxy exhibit gallery Solar System Gallery Guide — a guide to the Adler's Our Solar System exhibit gallery Illinois Learning Benchmarks at Adler Do you need help aligning your field trip to the Illinois Learning Benchmarks in Science? We can help you plan your trip! Visit our field trip page to download our visitor experience matrixes.